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Thermal neutrons have a much larger effective cross-section than fast neutrons, and can therefore be absorbed more easily by any atomic nuclei that they collide with, creating a heavier - and often unstable - isotope of the element as a result.

Most fission reactors use a neutron moderator to slow down, or thermalize the neutrons that are emitted by nuclear fission so that they are more easily captured, causing further fission. Others, called fast breeder reactors, use fast neutrons directly.

See also

• List of particlesElementary particles An elementary particle is a particle with no measurable internal structure, that is, it is not a composite of other particles. In a quantum field theory, these are the particles which are created and annihilated by the field operators
• nuclear reactionIn nuclear physics, a nuclear reaction is a process in which two nuclei or nuclear particles collide, to produce products different to the initial products. In principle a reaction can involve more than two particles colliding, but such an event is except
• Thermal reactorA thermal reactor is the most common category of nuclear reactor. Thermal reactors have moderating materials to reduce the speed of neutrons to low velocity thermal neutrons, so preventing the capture of the neutrons by Uranium 238. For further informatio